A BORIS Johnson for Surrey could be on the way under plans announced by the county council.

From May next year, new governance arrangements for Surrey will come into operation and Surrey County Council (SCC) is carrying out a consultation on whether residents would like to see a powerful directly elected mayor.

The electorate across the whole of Surrey would vote for the mayor once every four years. He or she would then be responsible for all executive functions.

Weybridge resident and former council candidate Kelvin MacKenzie has already thrown his hat into the ring for the top job. The former editor of The Sun said the prospect of Surrey having a figure with similar powers to the Mayor of London was a great idea.

“I definitely would stand,” he said. “I would like to see a mayor having powers in the areas of transport and tackling crime.

“A mayor should fight on behalf of the council tax payers of Surrey and fight central government to stop them redistributing all the money to elsewhere in the country.”

At the last Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) election Mr MacKenzie campaigned against the 43% increase in the cost of parking at station car parks.

He added: “If I was elected I would freeze all car parking charges for the duration of my mayoralty and make sure that there were change machines put in car parks.”

Elmbridge’s top politician has however seemed to rule himself out of the job.

EBC leader Roy Taylor, who is also a county councillor, said: “I do not think I would be standing.

“I am not however against the idea of a mayor and it may turn out to be the preferred option.

“We have to take all the views into consideration before the council comes to a view.”

SCC also wants to hear residents views on a second option – that of an executive leader and cabinet. This would be similar to the current arrangements, although the leader would have more power than at present.

The new system will come into operation immediately after the county council elections in May 2009.

The matter will be discussed at a SCC meeting on October 14, with a final decision being made on December 9. Residents are invited to make their views known by October 1.

Preferred options can be registered online at www.surreycc.gov.uk or comments can be submitted in writing to Democratic Services, Room 122, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2DN.